Jersey joins joint surgery register

Jersey joins national joint surgery register to boost patient care

Details of joint replacement operations carried out in Jersey are now being recorded on the National Joint Register (NJR), health officials have confirmed.

The move means the island will contribute to and benefit from one of the world’s largest databases of orthopaedic surgery, which is used to improve patient outcomes and monitor implant performance.

The NJR already holds information on more than 4.5 million procedures undertaken across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey, with around 250,000 new records added each year.

Health and Care Jersey said joining the register would help enhance orthopaedic services on the island by supporting research, innovation and the sharing of best practice.

Simon West, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon and medical director for Health and Care Jersey, said the step reflected “a clear commitment to the ongoing quality and safety of orthopaedic services”.

Elaine Young, director of operations for the NJR, welcomed Jersey’s participation, saying it would allow performance monitoring of implants and procedures carried out at Jersey General Hospital.

Established more than two decades ago, the National Joint Register tracks the results of hip, knee, ankle, elbow and shoulder replacements to improve care for patients across the UK and Crown Dependencies.